Mashable

Fans of the Grateful Dead have their favourite songs or favorite shows. Many have their favorite years, and for them, 1977 often stands out. The band had left behind their cosmic, psychedelic shows of the 60s, and were putting together more crafted sets that mixed songs from their growing repertoire of folk, country, blues and rock music.

By the time they reached Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, on Sept. 3, they had finished one of their most successful tours and played what many fans consider the best Dead show, ever, Barton Hall at Cornell University, on May 8, 1977.

At Raceway Park, 100,000 fans showed up to soak up the heat and the Grateful Dead.

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

A new Dead Era is upon us

Grateful Dead record company ad, 1977

Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News via Getty Images

If you want to pick a year where everything was working well, that year stands out

Steve Parish, Grateful Dead roadcrew, 1977

Image: Keith Torrie/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Image: Keith Torrie/NY Daily News via Getty Images

1977 was as close to a
flawless Grateful Dead tour as I've ever heard

David Lemieux, Grateful Dead Archivist

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

We had all this new material we were excited about playing

Donna Jean Godchaux, singer with the Grateful Dead

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

We're having fun again.

Jerry Garcia, 1977

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Everyone was healthy and partying full blast, every day

Steve Parish, Grateful Dead roadcrew, 1977

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Jerry was in a creative zone, and his health was OK. Yes, there was a lot of pressure. But that didn't interfere with Grateful Dead music. Music was the only way any of us could deal with pressure.

Richard Loren, Grateful Dead manager, 1977

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The Raceway show put the Dead up there with anybody else who was performing: 'Yeah, the Allman Brothers are a big band, but they're not the Grateful Dead.' The industry stood up and said, 'Holy mackerel!'

RICHARD LOREN, GRATEFUL DEAD, 1977

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Promised Land
They Love Each Other
Me and My Uncle
Mississippi Half-Step
Looks Like Rain
Peggy-O
New Minglewood Blues
Friend of the Devil
Music Never Stopped

Bertha
Good Lovin'
Loser
Estimated Prophet
Eyes of the World
Samson and Delilah
He's Gone
Not Fade Away
Truckin'

Terrapin Station

Grateful Dead Setlist, Raceway Park, September 1977

Image: James McGrath/NY Daily News via Getty Images

It was hot as holy hell. I was stuck with a friend down in front of the stage, and we couldn't get out for water. Every once in a while a bucket of water would be passed around, which may have saved people from dehydration or even death. Great show.

Mike Jarboe, Deadhead, Raceway, 1977

Image: Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Image: Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News via Getty Images

When the music played, everything made sense. When the music stopped, things started getting weird